Project of the Week - Crews Open New Lanes on SR 9 in Woodinville
Crews remove construction barrels from a newly widened section of SR 9 in Woodinville. |
Drivers on
State Route 9 from Woodinville to Maltby are enjoying a new four-lane divided highway, nearly six months ahead of schedule. On November 5, crews put the final touches on the raised median and removed many of the barrels on SR 9 that have been a familiar sight to drivers for nearly two years. The new lanes and safety improvements have transformed SR 9 from a dangerous two-lane road to a much safer four-lane divided highway.
Over the past two years, crews have removed and replaced unstable material under and near the roadway, paved the two new lanes and median, built three stormwater runoff ponds and replaced culverts at Whistle Creek, Great Dane Creek and Cutthroat Creek. They have done all this while battling Mother Nature and competing with other construction projects for resources. Although the most visible piece of this project is complete, work on this project is not over. Crews will continue to widen the ramps between SR 522 and SR 9 and build a new signal at the intersection of SR 524 and SR 9. This work, along with installing signs, guardrails, sidewalks and landscaping, will require occasional daytime lane closures and nighttime lane and ramp closures. This project is funded with $40.5 million from the 2003 Legislative Funding Package.
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Incident of the Week - IRT Keeps Traffic Moving Around Overturned Semi
On Sunday, November 4, an overturned semi created a dramatic closure of the ramp from southbound I-5 to the Port of Tacoma Road in Tacoma. The position of the overturned semi, which was transporting tires for vehicles, was such that the entire ramp had to remain closed until Incident Response members Kathy Vatter and Willie Ramsey could set up traffic control devices that safely directed traffic around the semi. Under traffic, the truck's load was transferred from one semi to another. Once that work was completed, the ramp was closed again for about 90 minutes while the semi was righted and removed from the site.
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Update of Projects Under Way
SR 3/SR 303 Bremerton - On Wednesday, November 7, WSDOT opened the new northbound SR 3 off ramp to southbound SR 303 – providing a direct connection from northbound SR 3 to southbound SR 303 and allowing vehicles to bypass the signals at both the Clear Creek Road and the Waaga Way over-crossing. On Tuesday, November 13, the new on ramp from SR 303 to southbound SR 3 will also open. This ramp creates new access to southbound SR 3 from both directions of SR 303 at the new signal located at the Waaga Way over-crossing. Once the new ramp is open, the existing on ramp to southbound SR 3 will be temporarily closed, reconfigured to restrict left turns, and the existing signal will be removed allowing continuous traffic flow at this location.
I-5 Everett - On November 5 crews started work on a trail that will connect the new bicycle and pedestrian overpass at 124th Street with the Interurban Trail in south Everett. The Interurban Trail is located along I-5 in Snohomish County. At 130th Street Southeast the freeway divides the trail. Pedestrians and bicyclists must cross I-5 at the busy 128th Street Southwest interchange, posing a hazard to both drivers and pedestrians. Crews plan to work through the winter to have the trail open for use by next spring. Once the trail is finished, the overpass will also be opened for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Crews install protective fencing on the slopes above US 12 near White Pass. Project work will help reduce the risk of rocks falling on the highway. |
US 12 White Pass - US 12 was opened to normal, two-lane traffic on nights and weekends on November 2. Crews have
stabilized the slopes above the highway in two locations near White Pass and flaggers are no longer needed to direct alternating one-way traffic 24-hours a day. Approximately two weeks of work remains, which will be done Monday through Friday during daylights hours, and drivers can expect up to 20 minute delays. Work areas are five miles west of the White Pass summit and near Rimrock Tunnel. Since July, crews have been bring large rocks down from the slope, and hanging protective fencing to reduce the risk of rocks falling onto the highway.
SR 270 Pullman -
SR 270 between Pullman and the Idaho border is now in its five-lane configuration, with one new lane added in each direction and a center turn-lane. Crews activated the signal at Airport Road near Moscow on November 8. Finishing work which includes installing guideposts, signing, and guardrail work is underway. Motorists should be alert for possible lane restrictions in some where these items are underway.
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Announcements
Paula Hammond Sworn in as Secretary of Transportation
Governor Chris Gregoire made Paula Hammond’s appointment as Secretary of Transportation official Monday, Nov. 5 during a brief swearing-in ceremony in Olympia. Hammond becomes the first female to serve as Secretary of Transportation in Washington. She will manage the agency and its more than 7,000 employees. The agency maintains 7,000 miles of highways and 3,300 bridges and tunnels. It also operates Washington State Ferries, with 29 boats that carry 26 million passengers per year. Hammond has been serving as Interim Secretary since August, when Doug MacDonald resigned.
Spokane’s Lenzi Appointed Chief Engineer
Newly appointed Secretary of Transportation Paula Hammond announced November 5 that Jerry Lenzi will assume the role of chief engineer for the Washington State Department of Transportation. He will oversee statewide project delivery, maintenance, operations and environmental programs. Lenzi is currently the regional administrator for WSDOT’s Eastern Region, based in Spokane. His appointment is effective immediately and he will transition into the new duties over the next couple of months.
In his 37-year career at WSDOT, Lenzi has served in progressively responsible positions in project inspection, design and supervision. As a project engineer, he oversaw the expansion of Interstate 5 through Olympia during the 1980’s. From 1985 to 1990, he was the manager of WSDOT’s Transportation Planning Office. He has served as Eastern Region administrator since 1990. During his tenure in the Eastern Region he spearheaded the long-awaited north/south freeway in Spokane and the widening of Interstate 90 and the Pullman/Moscow highway.
WSDOT Awards Innovative Projects to Reduce Trips
WSDOT this week announced 14 new projects for the 2007-2009 Trip Reduction Performance (TRPP) Program. With an additional $1 million provided by the Washington State Legislature in 2007, WSDOT was able to award a second round of projects to improve the transportation system by helping employees get to work using fewer vehicles. Contractors will provide incentives that get people out of their cars and onto buses, trains, vanpools, and other commute alternatives. Together, these projects propose to remove 2,668 daily commute vehicle trips.
“We are pleased with the variety of innovative projects submitted,” said Brian Lagerberg, WSDOT Assistant Public Transportation Director and Commute Trip Reduction Board Chair. “Through these projects entrepreneurs will be successful in removing vehicle trips and improving the transportation system.”
US 97, Biggs Bridge Project Begins in December, Complete Closure Begins January 2
A project that will replace the US 97, Biggs Bridge concrete deck will begin this December, and will require a complete closure of the bridge beginning January 2, 2008. Over the past several years, the bridge’s deck has begun to crack and deteriorate, and it continues to worsen despite several maintenance projects.
The bridge will remain closed while the north and main spans of the deck are replaced; the bridge will be reopened by Memorial Day 2008. Then, after Labor Day, the bridge will close again for the replacement of the bridge deck on the south end of the bridge. During construction, detour routes will be available. Responding to community input, WSDOT will not close the Biggs Bridge during the summer months to avoid interfering with the summer tourist season.
This contract was awarded to Mowat Construction Company of Woodinville, who submitted the winning bid of $12,228,837.
WSF announces service plans for November
Washington State Ferries (WSF) will add extra service on several popular routes this Thanksgiving so that families can celebrate the holiday together. Also this month, there will be a one day closure, on November 19, of the popular International route from Anacortes to Sidney, B.C. WSF needs to perform a required underwater hull inspection of the Elwha.
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Gray Notebook Highlight - Quieter Pavements
Approximately 70 percent of roadway noise comes from tires on pavement when vehicles travel at high speeds. WSDOT is measuring tire/pavement noise, to see what level of sound various types of pavements produce. There are 13 tire-pavement noise measurement locations throughout the state. Three of those locations are specifically designed as "quieter pavement" test sections, which are designed to reduce noise (I-5 in Lynnwood, SR 520 in Medina, and coming in 2009, I-405 in Bellevue). In Lynnwood, two different types of quieter pavement were put down on a test section of southbound I-5 during August 2006. All of the tire/pavement noise levels are slowly increasing compared with the period when the test pavement was new. This is not a surprise since all pavements tend to get louder as the initial, smoother surface wears away. WSDOT will continue to evaluate these pavement sections throughout the life of the pavement, likely for the next eight to 10 or more years. More details on this topic and other key issues can be found in the June 2007 Gray Notebook at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/accountability.
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November Open Houses, Meetings and Events
13 & 14, Tuesday & Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monthly Meeting, State Transportation Commission - Olympia: The Washington State Transportation Commission, an independent state agency, provides a public forum for transportation policy development. It reviews and evaluates how the transportation system works across the state and issues the state’s 20-year Transportation Plan. As the State Tolling Authority, the Commission sets tolls for state highways and bridges and fares for Washington State Ferries. A public comment period is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:45. Location: Transportation Building, Commission Boardroom, 310 Maple Park Avenue SE, Olympia.
13 - 16, hours vary, Transportation Planning Symposium - Spokane:
The Transportation Planning Symposium is an annual event that presents success stories, demonstrates changing technologies, and showcases how planning and project delivery promote greater transportation system efficiency. This year’s focus is on tools and practices that promote effective transportation planning as a key component in delivering the right projects at the right place and time and to address the growing demands for transportation of all kinds. Location: Red Lion Inn at the Park, Spokane. Registration information: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/planning/symposium/details.
15, Thursday, 4 – 7:30 p.m., Open House, SR 20 Sharpes Corner - Anacortes: WSDOT engineers will show the public several preliminary designs for increasing traffic flow and reducing collisions at the SR 20 Spur in Anacortes. The public is invited to review and offer feedback on the designs. Location: Anacortes Middle School, Library, 2200 M Ave., Anacortes. Contact Dave Chesson for more information: 360-757-5970.
For more details, please visit the WSDOT Calendar of Events.
Weekly Report Archive
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